LOCAL CHURCHES PREPARE FOR THE JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 1999 (VIS) - A series of initiatives from local Churches for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 were presented this morning in the Holy See Press Office.

The participants at the press conference were: Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, respectively president and secretary of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, Angelo Scelzo, editor of "Tertium Millennium" magazine and Luca de Mata, head of the central committee's Internet services.

Archbishop Sepe reviewed the abundant informatory material produced worldwide and dedicated to the Jubilee, including more than 1,000 publications comprising manuals, pamphlets, videos etc., more than 200 messages sent by national episcopal conferences and more than 100 pastoral programs.

Referring to Jubilee initiatives by continent, the secretary of the Central Committee indicated that in Latin America, CELAM (the Latin American Episcopal Council) is coordinating various activities with the support of a group of countries including Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Archbishop Sepe went on to say that, as regards Africa, one of the most interesting initiatives is the national pilgrimage on Sunday, May 30 to the Basilica of Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, which "will be a kind of synthesis for the whole continent of the three years of preparation" for the Jubilee.

There are also many activities promoted by the European Churches. The archbishop said: "In Italy more than 90 percent of the dioceses are experiencing a special moment of grace through peoples' missions, meetings etc." In Spain, the national committee has produced a large quantity of pastoral material and liturgical texts.

In Asia, "the Korean bishops have promoted a national movement called 'New Day, New Life'" which aims to achieve "a positive transformation within the national community, starting with the family, the work environment and the city."

In Australia, from June 2 to 11, an ecumenical pilgrimage will take place whose goal is "spiritual renewal and reconciliation, especially with Australian aborigines."

Thereafter, referring to charitable aspects of the Jubilee, the archbishop indicated that needy pilgrims coming from all over the world "will make up part of the diocesan or national group and assistance for them will be assured by the group itself." He added that, in Italy, "374 houses have already been made available by ecclesiastical bodies, and these will offer accommodation at reduced charges, while another 41 will offer free hospitality, giving a total of more than 26,000 beds."

Luca de Mata announced that, starting next week, Jubilee initiatives promoted by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the U.S.A. may be studied at the web site www.jubil2000.org and, within three weeks, pages concerning Uruguay, Mexico and Venezuela will also be ready.

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